Experts to Asses if the Baltic Pride 2013 Promotional Videos are in Line with Lithuanian Laws

10/09/2013

Submitted by
Lithuanian Gay League

The Lithuanian experts will examine whether the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) has proportionally applied the Law on Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effects of Public Information with regards to restricting the broadcasting time of the Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos. In July the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) turned to the Inspector of Journalists’ Ethics against the LRT’s decision to impose restrictions on the Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos. The LRT decided to broadcast the videos only during the night hours and only marked as the ‘adult content’.
Mr. Deividas Velkas, i.e. the adviser to the Inspector of Journalist’s Ethics, said an expert group will meet in September after receiving the LRT’s explanation to the LGL’s compliant. “The investigation is in progress and it is not over yet. It was only [recently] that we received explanations from the national broadcaster, so the meeting of the expert group should take place in early September to look into the main issue – are the videos and the information contained therein in line with the provisions of the Minor Protection Law,” told Mr. Velkas.
In July the Lithuanian Gay League (LGL) turned to the Inspector of Journalists’ Ethics against the LRT’s decision to impose restrictions on the Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos. “The videos provided by the LGL to the LRT promote same-sex relations. The videos potentially encourage the concept of entry into a marriage and creation of a family other than stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania,” LRT Deputy Director Mr. Rimvydas Paleckis said in an official letter to the LGL.
In the meanwhile the LGL dismisses the LRT’s decision as ungrounded. The association is of a position that the promotional videos do not promote any relations at all and rather simply indicate that there are people with alternative sexual orientations and sexual identities in Lithuania.The Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos can be seen here and here.

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The Lithuanian experts will examine whether the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) has proportionally applied the <a href="http://www.iglhrc.org/sites/default/files/319-1.pdf" target="_self">Law</a> on Protection of Minors against Detrimental Effects of Public Information with regards to restricting the broadcasting time of the Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos. In July the Lithuanian Gay League (<a href="http://www.atviri.lt/index.php/news/experts_to_asses_if_the_baltic_pride_2013_promotional_videos_are_in_line_with_lithuanian_laws/www.facebook.com/lgl.lt" target="_self">LGL</a>) turned to the Inspector of Journalists’ Ethics against the LRT’s decision to impose restrictions on the Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos. The LRT decided to broadcast the videos only during the night hours and only marked as the ‘adult content’.<br />
Mr. Deividas Velkas, i.e. the adviser to the Inspector of Journalist’s Ethics, said an expert group will meet in September after receiving the LRT’s explanation to the LGL’s compliant. “The investigation is in progress and it is not over yet. It was only [recently] that we received explanations from the national broadcaster, so the meeting of the expert group should take place in early September to look into the main issue – are the videos and the information contained therein in line with the provisions of the Minor Protection Law,” told Mr. Velkas.<br />
In July the Lithuanian Gay League (<a href="http://www.atviri.lt/index.php/news/experts_to_asses_if_the_baltic_pride_2013_promotional_videos_are_in_line_with_lithuanian_laws/www.facebook.com/lgl.lt" target="_self">LGL</a>) turned to the Inspector of Journalists’ Ethics against the LRT’s decision to impose restrictions on the Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos. “The videos provided by the LGL to the LRT promote same-sex relations. The videos potentially encourage the concept of entry into a marriage and creation of a family other than stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania,” LRT Deputy Director Mr. Rimvydas Paleckis said in an official letter to the LGL.<br />
In the meanwhile the LGL dismisses the LRT’s decision as ungrounded. The association is of a position that the promotional videos do not promote any relations at all and rather simply indicate that there are people with alternative sexual orientations and sexual identities in Lithuania.<br />The Baltic Pride 2013 promotional videos can be seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rDP_t2QcmI" target="_self">here</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCaGtQEYY0w" target="_self">here</a>.</p>